Beach accessory



Feb. 13, 1940. c.' E. JULIAN BEACH ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1940.

C. E. JULIAN BEACH ACCESSORY Fi led Nov. 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1940. Q JUUAN 2,190,566

) BEACH ACCESSORY Fild Nov. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 13, 1940 mess era-res .;.enfrsnr t me 3 BEACH ACCESSORY Glifiord E. Julian, FortLauderdale, Fla.

Application November 5, 1938, Serial No. 239,141

Claims.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide ,,a;bea oh accessoryadapted for use as a mat, backrest, and/or-sun'shade intheform of a flexible ,unit comprising a length of i'lexible'material and shape maintaining flexible frame members car-.

.ried thereby which may be flexed to dispose a portion of said unit in any one ofa plurality of selected positions with-relation toanotherportion thereof. i 1

A further object is to provide a flexible unit comprising a length of fabric and flexible form retaining frame members attachedthereto wi' ich may be set upwith one endportion lying .flat on the ground and with the otherend arched to selected one of various positions overlying the ground engaging portion to provide a combination reclining mat and canopy.

Otherobiects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention and upon reference to theaccompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure l a perspective View of a preferred embodiment of the inventionset up in one selected form, Figures 2 to 6 inclusive arediagrammatic views illustrating otherways of setting the unit up,

.Figurel'? is a plan View of the unit laid out hat and with the end supports detached,

.Figure 8 is a irag nentary. view, partially in section, showing the mannerwof mounting the flexible frame members on the fabric section, I

,Figure 9 is an edge View ofpart of a frame .member,

Figure lfiiis an enlarged perspective View showing a joint between sections of the frame members,

stake,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a spacer bar, Figure 13 is a transversesectional view illustrating the manner of mounting a spacer bar between the frame members,

Figures 14 to 18 are diagrammatic viewsillustrating the steps of folding the unit into a pack age for transportation and storage.

, Referring more particularly to the drawings, as

framemembers 23. i

to break in one direction only. The steel strips Figure 11. is a perspective View of a supporting (01. 135-4) seen in Figure 7, the flexible unit comprises, a

section of flexible material 26 which is prefer-t ably a rectangular piece of canvasor other suit- :able fabric. The opposite longitudinal edges of the section 20 are hemmed as at it to provide (1Q pockets22 for the reception of elongatedflexible -The frarriemembersjS, which arepreierably in the-formrofiiat springsteel strips,; are at least as longas the iabric section 2d are, prodo vided at one endwith 1091 5 or yes 25. The loopsizfl prfl ide a cfii venient meansiordetacm ably connecting one end of each 'of the frame ,m mb mi h p e aends o sta s w hJ providedwithsnap hooks Zdfor engaging the 15 loopsfM. i

The flexible frame inen bers zii each have an overalllength of about twelve ifeetand are made of three sectio ns of spring steel stripabout four "feet long hinged together endto end so as are about ,wide by 5 thick The hinge connection 21 between two adjacent iramesections 28 and is shown indetailin Figure 10.,

I The ,stripslare providedat their ends withhinge g5 eyes ii fi andare connected by a pintle pin 382" The iframe sections are provided with stops 3 l on theback thereon-immediately adjacent thehinge eyes Biwhich abutpne another to prevent pivotal motion betweenthe sections in one direction. ,30

Due to the stop hinge connections between the m frame sectionsthe frame. member may, be flexed in the .mannerof. a single. unitary strip in one direction and t he ends may be folded back on the middle section in thewother direction.

Thestakesflfi, which support ,one end oi" the unit, are adjustable in .length,:being formed of two telescoping sections 32 and 3 3. The outer and lower sleeve section 32 has a thumb screw 3i threaded through the wall thereof I adjacent its .upper. end toengage-the inner section 33300 lock' the sections together when adjusted to the stake length desired. The lower end of the sleeve 32 is pointed to enter the ground and is provided with a foot plate 35, spaced from the pointed end (3 thereof, to aid in inser ting the stake in the sand Q when settingup the unit.

A crosspieceor frame memberfiilwhich may be of wood orany other suitable material, as

shown in Fig. 12, is provided to hold the siclefl frames in properly spacedr elation, when thejdevice is'in use. The cross piece is provided with grooves 3'? in each end to receive the edges of theirarnemembers 23,,as seen in Figure 13, and

is substantially equal in length to the Width of fabric between the frame members.

In setting up the device for use, the fabric section, with the side frame members 23 disposed in the pockets at opposite sides thereof, is laid flat upon the ground with the hinge stops 3| facing up. The stakes 25 are then connected to the side frames by snapping the hooks Zion the loops 24. The end 39 of the unit with the stakes attached is then raised and doubled back over the portion Mi still lying flat on the ground to the extent desired and the stakes, adjusted to the proper length, are inserted in the ground. The

' cross frame member 36 is then placed in position to separate the frame members and hold them spaced apart with the fabric tautened therebetween as seen in Figure 13. The device is then ready for use as a combined mat and canopy or sunshade,

By adjusting the length and inclination of the stakes and the amount of overhang of the doubled over end 39 of the unit, various effects may be obtained as seen in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. In these illustrations, it will be seen that innumerable variations between the relative sizes of the canopy and mat portions 39 and 4c, respectively, may be attained as desired.

If no canopy or sunshade is desired, the unit may be used as a combined mat and backrest, as seen in Figure 6. When thus used, one end is merely supported in elevated position by the stakes 25 to form a backrest 41 at the end of a mat portion 12.

If a large canopy without a mat is desired, the ends 43 of each of the frame members 23, 0132- posite the loops 24, are exposed by drawing back the fabric at this point and are inserted in the ground. The unit is then flexed in the form of an arch with the" other end 13 supported by the stakes as seen in Fig. 3.

The steps of folding the unit are shown in Figs. 14 to 18. When the unit is to be taken down, the cross frame member 36 is removed and the stakes are disconnected from the loops 24. Due to the tendency of the frame members to straighten, the unit will automatically return to its original position flat on the ground, as seen in Figure 14. The sides are then folded inwardly, as seen at 45 in Figure 15, to reverse the position of the stop hinges of the frame members. The ends 46 and ti of the partially folded unit are then folded inwardly onto the center section 48 as seen in Figures 16 and 1'7 and the pad thus formed is rolled up into a compact package 49 as seen in Figure 18.

When folded and rolled up in this manner, the unit makes a roll about four feet long. The sections of the stakes 25 are about four feet long and they can thus be carried rolled up in the bundle. The cross bar 33 is preferably the same length as one of the sections of the frame so that it also may be rolled up in the bundle. In cases where the unit is to be made wider than the length of one of the frame sections, the cross frame member will be jointed to fold in half.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention and manners of using the same have been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that various modifications in the details of construction of and manner of using the invention, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a beach accessory of the character described, a flexible self-contained unit adapted to be bent intermediate its ends to dispose one end portion in any one of a plurality of selected positions overlying or upstanding with relation to the other end portion disposed on the ground, said unit comprising a substantially rectangular section of fabric, resiliently flexible side frame members carried by said fabric section in laterally spaced relation with respect to each other, and ground engaging means detachably secured to one end of said unit for maintaining the adjacent end portion thereof in a selected elevated position with respect to the other end portion thereof.

2. A self-supporting beach accessory adapted for use as a mat, backrest and/or sunshade, comprising a substantially rectangular fabric section, resiliently flexible side frame members mounted at opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, and ground engaging supporting means connected to one end of said resilient side frame members.

3. In a beach accessory adapted for use as a mat, backrest and/or sunshade, a flexible unit comprising a length of flexible material and shape maintaining resiliently flexible side frame members carried thereby, whereby said unit may be flexed in the direction of its length todispose one end portion thereof in any one of a plurality of selected elevated positions with relation to the other end portion thereof, and ground engaging means for maintaining said first mentioned end portion in a selected elevated position.

l. In a beach accessory of the character described, a flexible self-contained unit comprising a section of fabric and form retaining resiliently flexible side frame members carried by said. fabric section in laterally spaced relation, and

elongated ground engaging elements detachably connected to one end of said frame members.

5. A self-contained, self-supporting beach accessory adapted for use as a mat, backrest and/or sunshade, comprising a fabric section, resiliently flexible side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, and ground engaging. supporting means connected to one end of said side frame members.

6. A self-contained, self-supporting beach accessory comprising a substantially rectangular fabric section, resiliently flexible side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, a cross member intermediate the ends of said unit for maintaining said side frame members in spaced relation, and ground engaging supporting means connected to one end of said side frame members.

7. A self-contained, self-supporting beach accessory comprising a substantially rectangular section of fabric, resilient side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, a stretcher member maintaining said side frame members in spaced relation, and stake members connected to one end of each of said side frame members.

8'. A beach accessory comprising a substantially rectangular section of fabric, resilient side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, a stretcher member maintaining said side frame members in spaced relation, and a stake member connected to one end of each of said side frame members, whereby with one end of said fabric and resilient frame members engaging the ground, the other end thereof may be supported by said stakes in any one of a plurality of elevated positions with respect thereto.

, 9. A beach accessory comprising a substantial ly rectangular section of fabric, resiliently flexmembers in any one of a plurality of positions overlying the ground engaging portion thereof.

10. me beach accessory of the character described, a flexible unit comprising a substantially rectangular fabric section, resiliently flexible shape-maintaining and supporting side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, and ground engaging supporting means connected to one end of said unit. ll. In a beach accessory of the character described, a flexible unit comprisinga substantially rectangular fabric section, resiliently flexible shape-maintaining and supporting side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, and ground engaging supporting means connected to one end of said unit, whereby, with the other end of said unit engaging the ground, the unit may be flexed intermediate its ends to dispose the first mentioned end thereof in any one of a plurality of elevated positions with respect to the ground, said ground engaging supporting meansserving to maintain the elevated end of said unit in the selected position. i

12. In a beach accessory, of thecharacterdescribed, afabric section, resiliently flexible shapemaintaining and supporting side frame members secured to opposite longitudinal edges of said fabric section, and stake members connected at their upper ends to one end of said frame members, said stakes being adjustable in length tosupport said ends of said frame members at various elevations and positions with respect to the other end thereof 13. In .a beach accessory of the character described, afiexible unit comprising a substantially rectangular fabric section, flexible side frame comprising a length of flexible material and lonelevations.

ried at opposite longitudinal edges thereof, said side frame members each comprising a plurality of flexible strips, stop hinge, connections between i said strips,whereby said frame members may be flexed in one direction to dispose one end portion of said unit in any one of a plurality of i members coextensive with said fabricsection car-- selected positions with relation tothe other end portion thereof and folded back upon themselves in the other direction to permit folding of said un t into a compact package, and groundengaging supporting means connected to the first men tioned end portion of. said unit.

14. In a beach accessoryadapted for use as a I mat,backrest and/or sunshade, a flexible unit gitudinally extending shape maintaining *flex ible frame members carried thereby, said frame v v members each comprising a plurality of flexible strips and stop hinge connections between said strips, whereby said frame members may be flexed in one direction to dispose one end portion of said, unit in any one of a'plurality of selected positions with relation to the other end portion thereof and folded back upon themselves in the a compact package, and stake members con nected to the firstqmentioned end portion of said unit, said stake members being adjustable in length to support said end portion at various other direction to permit folding of said unit into 15 In a beach accessory of the character described, a flexible. unit comprising a rectangular fabric section, longitudinally extending shape maintaining flexible frame membersvcarried at; opposite edges of said fabricsection, said frame members each comprising a plurality of spring metal strips, stop hinge connections between adjacent ends of said'strips whereby said frame g 40" members may beflexed as a unit in one direction to dispose one end portion of said unitin any, one of a plurality of raised positions with relation to the other end portion thereof and folded back upon themselves in the other direction to permit folding of said unit into a compact package, and stake members detachably connectedto the raised ends of said frame members for retaining the latter in the desired raised position.

CLIFFORD'E; JULiA 

